Persiapan ala kadar, kurang meriah dan hanya pasukan bertanding saja lebih bersungguh-sungguh.
Saya sempat bertanya kepada salah seorang pegawai hoki Pahang dan jawapannya mengejutkan.
"Tiada duit. Penaja tak mahu terbabit. Saya rasa mungkin kerana Tengku Abdullah (bekas presiden Konfederasi Hoki Malaysia) kurang campur tangan. Apa boleh buat...," katanya.
Saya sempat membuat liputan sesi latihan pasukan bertanding di Stadium Hoki Wisma Belia dan suasana nyata jauh berbeza dengan Piala Sultan Johor, bulan lalu.
Ternyata, Johor buat persiapan lebih baik dengan dana tajaan RM1.81 juta daripada pelbagai pihak.
Bagi Pahang, hanya dua jalan untuk mengatasi masalah ini.
Pertama, jika penonton datang membanjiri Stadium Hoki Wisma Belia dengan sorakan padu terhadap The Young Warriors, ia pasti menghidupkan suasana.
Saya pernah menyaksikan gelombang penyokong hoki Pahang pada Cabaran Juara-Juara 1, tahun lalu - mereka memang hebat.
Kedua, jika Malaysia berjaya layak ke Piala Dunia Remaja.
Itu paling penting kerana semua lapan pasukan bertanding mahukan tiket ke New Delhi, India.
Malah, saya berharap walau apapun yang berlaku, masalah kurang dana, tidak meriah atau penonton kurang, Malaysia tetap layak ke New Delhi kerana itulah matlamat Malaysia.
Sebab itulah pasukan ini dinamakan Projek 2016.
Tapi saya percaya orang Pahang akan datang. Kalaupun tidak memenuhi kapasiti 11,000 tempat duduk Stadium Hoki Wisma Belia, sekurang-kurangnya untuk setiap perlawanan Malaysia mereka pasti ada.
Ayuh Pahang moh kita sokong Malaysia!
Bazly Azmi
Fri Nov 13 2015


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